dog days 酷暑期

該片語起源於古羅馬、希臘或埃及︐他們認為酷暑是地球靠近天狼星(大犬座)造成

的︐羅馬人將夏末時期稱為狗星日。因此 dog days 指大熱天、三伏天。

l 劍橋字典解釋︓the hottest days of the summer

l 例句︓The dog days of summer are a difficult period for those who have to work out in

the open. 對那些必須在戶外工作的人來說︐夏季的三伏天很難熬。

dog's life 悲慘的生活

這個片語源於 16 世紀︐這個時代的狗︐日子過得悲慘。過狗一般的生活︐可以用

動詞 live/lead a dog's life 指長期憂慮、痛苦、悲傷或單調乏味等的非人生活。

l 劍橋字典解釋︓a very unhappy and unpleasant life

l 例句︓I’ve been working so hard. I’m tired of living a dog’s life. 我一直努力工作︐我厭

倦這非人的悲慘生活。

work like a dog 勤奮地工作

像狗一樣工作 work like a dog 大多指不知疲倦地工作︐或做很多工作卻得到少報

酬。相反的︐也有人解釋「狗」是比喻懶惰的人︐表明他們工作很少︐或是暗示「工作」

在某種程度上有辱人格。

l 劍橋字典解︓to work very hard

l 例句︓You can work like a dog and still not make ends meet. 你可以拼命工作︐但還是

不能維持生計。
dog-tired 精疲力竭的

聽到 dog-tired 腦中浮現一隻累癱的狗︐可能是剛忙完工作的牧羊犬或獵犬等。該

片語源於英國阿菲烈特大帝 Alfred the Great 的故事︐他將大量的獵犬釋放︐看哪一位

兒子能將最多的獵犬帶回︐當晚就可以得到他的青睞︐坐在他右手邊享用晚餐︐而追逐

獵犬使他們精疲力盡 dog-tired︐所以 dog-tired 意思就是極度疲憊的︐也可以說 dead

on your feet 或是 dead tired。

l 劍橋字典解釋︓extremely tired

l 例句︓I can safely say, I have never been so dog-tired as that night in Chicago. 我可以

肯定地說︐我從來沒有像在芝加哥的那個晚上那樣累過。

sick as a dog 病得〸分嚴重

狗在 17 世紀被認為是不受歡迎的動物︐故衍生許多與狗有關的負面詞彙︐sick as

dog 是指病得很重︐以至於可能會想嘔吐。其他類似的比喻 sick as a parrot 病得跟鸚

鵡一樣︐指非常失望、非常掃興。

l 劍橋字典解釋︓vomiting a lot

l 例句︓I was sick as a dog after last night's meal. 昨晚吃完飯後︐我吐得一塌糊塗。

dog eat dog 弱肉強食

連狗都咬狗︐自相殘殺︐意味著殘酷無情的競爭環境︐不惜一切代價取得成功。

l 劍橋字典解釋︓used to describe a situation in which people will do anything to be

successful, even if what they do harms other people

l 例句︓It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. 這是一個損人利己的無情世界。

go to the dogs 大不如前

17 世紀狗被視為低等生物︐它們野蠻地在郊區吃垃圾︐如果一個機構已經 go to the

dog 出現狗︐它就不復往日之盛了。go to the dog 指組織、機構等一蹶不振︐大不如前。

l 劍橋字典解釋︓If a country or organization is going to the dogs, it is becoming very much

less successful than it was in the past

l 例句︓This firm's gone to the dogs since you took over! 這公司自你接手已大不如前︕

the tail wagging the dog 本末倒置、轉移焦點

有一句話說 a dog is smarter than its tail 狗比尾巴聰明︐但如果尾巴更聰明︐那麼

尾巴就會搖狗。想像一下一隻狗搖尾巴到全身在搖晃︐尾巴搖狗 the tail wagging the dog

比喻事物的主次顛倒︐次要部分支配或決定全局。這句片語也可簡稱 wag the dog︐除

了捨本逐末意思︐也可以指轉移焦點︐或是大群體為小群體服務。

l 劍橋字典解釋︓a situation in which a large group has to do something to satisfy a small

group

l 例句︓The prime minister keeps wagging the dog to keep people from actually finding

out about the scam and its details. 總理不斷轉移焦點︐以防止人們真正了解騙局及

其細節。

dog in the manger 占著茅坑不拉屎

manger 是飼料槽︐dog in the manger 就是指占著茅坑不拉屎。這個片語出現在伊

索寓言故事中︐敘述一隻狗跳進牛的飼料槽午睡︐並趕走要回來吃草的牛︐故事寓意為

人們經常嫉妒別人擁有自己不能享受的東西。
l 劍橋字典解釋︓someone who keeps something that they do not want in order to prevent

someone else from getting it

l 例句︓Stop being such a dog in the manger and let your sister ride your bike if you’re not

using it. 不要占著茅坑不拉屎︐如果你不使用它︐就讓你妹妹騎你的單車。

fight like cat and dog 爭吵不休

貓狗打架 fight like cat and dog 象徵兩個人就特定問題不斷爭論或爭吵的情況。

l 劍橋字典解釋︓to have angry arguments all the time

l 例句︓The politicians tend to fight like cat and dog during general elections. 大選期間︐

政客們容易像貓狗一樣爭吵不休。

you can't teach an old dog new tricks 本性難移

像動物一樣︐年老難學藝︐你不能教一隻老狗新把戲 you can't teach an old dog new

tricks︐指無法改變他人的想法、做法或習慣。

l 劍橋字典解釋︓said to mean that it is very difficult to teach someone new skills or to

change someone's habits or character

l 例句︓I tried to make my grandmother learn how to use a smartphone but it was just like

you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. 我試圖教我的祖母如何使用智慧型手機︐但這

就像你不能教一隻老狗新把戲。

every dog has its day 凡人皆有得意日/風水輪流轉

每隻狗都有好運的一天 every dog has its day︐也就是每個人都有成功的機會︐儘管

現在不得志︐但風水輪流轉︐總有輪到你成功的一天︐可以用在鼓勵身邊的人。
l 劍橋字典解釋︓said to emphasize that everyone is successful or happy at some time in

their life

l 例句︓I know you're shocked that the dopey kid got a better grade than you, but hey,

every dog has its day. 我知道你很震驚那個笨孩子的成績比你好︐但凡人皆有得意

日。